Unemployment figures highlight need for free job seminar

Although the unemployment rate in Douglas County has dropped two percentage points since January, more than 2,700 people are still out of work, according to the state, and could use some help in locating their next job.

Enter Douglas County's Employment Training and Job Development program, headed by Denise Castle. The program is hosting a free, two-day job seminar Wednesday and Thursday at Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville, 1375 Centerville Lane.

"We are trying a new venue this time around, the Methodist Church meeting room," said Castle. "This will ensure we have enough space to accommodate a significant sized crowd."

Open to all Douglas County residents, the seminar will focus on job readiness, learning what tools should be in place before seeking employment; job search strategies, exploring a variety of effective job search ideas and techniques; point of contact, learning how to make a lasting impression before, during and after an interview; and available resources, including local agencies and services.

For both days, 8:30 a.m. is the check-in time. The seminar runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To register, call 782-9825.

According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the unemployment rate in Douglas County has dropped from 15.3 percent in January to 13.3 percent in April.

The total labor force has fluctuated from 20,860 workers in January to a four-month high of 21,170 workers in March, down to 20,740 workers in April. While the labor force has wavered over the first quarter of the year, the total number of unemployed has steadily declined.

In January, 3,190 workers in the available labor force were out of work. In February, that number dropped to 3,180. In March, with the largest total labor force, the number dropped again to 3,150. In April, there were 2,770 unemployed workers in the smallest labor force of the year.

Since the total labor force was high in March, the month's unemployment rate of 14.9 percent reflected a true improvement over February's 15.1 percent. In April, however, the 13.3 percent rate, a 1.6 percent drop from the previous month, must be weighed against the 430-person drop in total labor force.

Both the labor force and unemployment figures in April represent the lowest numbers so far this year.

Statewide, the unemployment rate fell for the fourth consecutive month, dropping from 13.2 percent in March to 12.5 percent in April, according to DETR figures. Nevada's employers added about 3,600 jobs between March and April, about 1,100 more than expected.

"A tepid economic recovery continued to take hold in Nevada in April," said William Anderson, chief economist for DETR. "On the downside, the labor force continued to drop, adding to the roughly 44,000 who exited the workforce in the last 12 months. However, Nevada's recent improvement is at last beginning to align with national trends. As expected, Nevada lags behind the recovery, but the gap, at least measured by the unemployment rate, is beginning to narrow."

Douglas County Commission Chairman Mike Olson said the free job seminar will help support the overall economic vitality of the community.

"We are working hard to bring more businesses and jobs to Douglas County, and we need people ready when they get here," he said.